Improvement in watch-cases



E. C. FITCH. Watch-Oase.

No. 214,642. Patented April 22, 1879.

NAPETERS, PHOYo-UTHOGHAPHER, wAsHfNGToN, D C.

PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA (l. FlTCH, OF NFY YORKQN. Y.

IMPROVEMENT iN WATCH-CASES.

Specitication i'orniing part oi Letters Patent No.

214,642, dated April .'22, 1F79; application tiled `lanuary 4, 1879.

To all fir/rom 'it may concern.:

-le it known that l, FJZRA C. FITCH, of New York city, have invented certain new and useiul improvements in Natoli-Gases, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention applies more especially to the class ot' open-face stem-winding watches now coming into exteiisive use; and my improvements aim to simplify and cheapeu the construction otl the case, and at the same time render it impervious to the entrance of dust, to which ends the invention embodies a number of novel features, as hereinafter set forth.

The drawings annexed present, in Figure l, a diametric section of myimproved watch-case on the line ot' the stem, and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 2 is a face view, with the bezel and stem-cap removed, both of which embody novel features.

As illustrated, Aindicates the main body ot' the watchscase, which is formed, as shown, in one seamless piece in the shape of a concave shell, and open in the front to receive the movement. '.lhis continuous or seamless construction ofthe body ot' the case, avoiding the use ot' any lids or caps, thus greatly conduccs to simplicity and cheapness, as may be observed, and constitutes one feature of my invention.

The movement oi the watch is held in a sustaining-ring, B, which is hinged to the case A on the front edge of the aperture thereof, as shown at j", in such manner that when the bezel is removed the ring with its contained movement maybe swung outward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, thus rendering the movement readily accessible and obviatin g the necessity ot' a back cap or lid, which hence enables the case A to be formed in one seamless piece, as before described, and constitutes another feature of the invention.

The movement is held in the ring B in the manner usual in American watches, and this ring is hinged to the rim of the case A just at the base ot the ste-m, as shown, the movement being so arranged therein that the windingstud g oi the movement comes in line with the winding-key h. of the stem, and properly engages therewith, as shown in Fig. l. When the movement is to be swung out, however, the stenrwinding knob is may be pulled partly out, as usual, so as to draw the key h out of l engagement with the stud g, and thus permit the outswing ot' the movement, as will be understood, the parts g lz becoming readily engaged when the movementis again swung into the case.

i The bezel C, which holds the crystal, is attachedto the case by screwing it thereon, as shown in Fig. l, the rim ot the bezel being formed with an internal screw-thread, which meshes with a corresl'ionding thread on a shouldered rim, m, on the face ot' the case, as shown, and as the bezel is thus screwed tightly down the level edge of the rim forms a tight joint with the shouldered rim ofthe case, which is proof' against the entrance of dust or moisture, as will be appreciated.

By making the screw-thread on the interior of the bezel, so as to tit a corresponding thread on the interior of the case, l am enabled to construct 'a watch with only one division in the ease, and thus the entrance ot dust or moisture to the works is lessened by halt' ascompared with those cases in which there is an opening at both back and front.

A small groove may be turned in the lace of the shoulder ou the case to receive a line packingring, a, ot' pure rubber or other suitable material, to make the tightness of the joint more secure and certain, it' found necessary. The face of the bezel is formed with a marginal circle of milling, as shown in Fig. 2, which atfords sutlicient 'frictional grasp to enable the bezel to be readily screwed on or ot't'.

Anotherieature ot' the invention consistsin the removable stem-cap D, which is adapted to tightly it upon the top ot' the stem and inelose the windingknob 7., so as to prevent the entrance of any dust or other foreign matter at that part. The stem-cap is preferably attached to the stem by screwing it thereon in the manner of the bezel, as shown in. Fig. l, and may be readily unscrewed when it is desired to wind the watch, as will be understood.

The cap D is preferably ot' similar diameter with the body of the stem, which latter is formed, as shown, with a short threaded neck, which screws into the threaded bore 0i' the cap, the level edge of the cap being screwed down tightly on the smooth shoulder of the neck, so as to form a perfectly tight joint, which effectually prevents the infiltration ot' any dust or moisture thereat. Any other suitable mode of attaching the cap to the stem may be employed; but the screw-connection shown, meeting in a tight shoulder-joint, is considered preferable. A packing-ring may also be used on the shouldered neck ofthe stem, similar to that of the bezel, it' found desirable.

These combined features of construction thus form a watch which, While being cheap, simple, and complete, has the great advantage of being impervious tothe entrance of dust or wet. This latter quality is found to be of great importance to that class who most use this class of Watches, such as railroad men, travelers, and others who have to make frequent reference to the Watch, and Who are almost constantlyr exposed to the influence of dust or wet.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. An open-face stem-winding-watch case .formed in one seamless concave shell, open in front to receive the movement, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In combination with an inclosing watchcase, the outswiuging ring B, adapted to contain the movement, and hinged to the margin of the*inclosing-case,-substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with an inclosing Watchcase, the outs win ging ringB, hinged to the case at the base of the stem, and adapted to contain a stem-windin g movement, with its winding` stud arranged in line with the Winding-key of the stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.. W

4. The combination, with an inclosingwatchcase having the margin of its face provided with a threaded and shouldered rim, of the bezel C, having its rim formed with an internal thread and a corresponding level edge or shoulder to screw upon that of the case and form a tight ,joint therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a watch-case, the combination of the removable cap D, adapted to be tightly fitted over the stem of the case to inclose the Winding knob or other operative deviceA thereon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EZRA G. FITCH.

Witnesses:

J oHN E.l GAVIN,

CHAs. M. HIGGINS. 

